This is a list of all documents accepted for permanent retention under the subject classification 'Natural resources and the environment: Weather'.
Natural resources and the environment:
Weather
100 - year rainstorms in the Midwest: design characteristics (1993) [C-176]
This document provides pertinent information on the spatial distribution characteristics of extremely heavy rainstorm events in Illinois and the Midwest. Relations were developed for those storms in which maximum rainfall at the center equaled or exceeded the point maximum experienced on the average of once in 100 years or longer. The study was limited to this group of storms because of existing needs for information on these extreme storm events in the design and operation of water control structures in small basins. It is recommended for use in conjunction with Illinois State Water Survey Bulletin 70, Bulletin 71 (Midwestern Climate Center Research Report 92-03), and Water Survey Circular 173 for runoff computations related to the design and operation of runoff control structures in small basins subject to extreme rainfall events. Area-depth relations were derived from information obtained through operation of several dense raingage networks, detailed field surveys and analyses of severe rainstorms in Illinois, analyses of heavy rainstorms in a six-basin hydroclimatic study, and exceptional storms recorded by the climate network of the National Weather Service in Illinois. Using data and information from these sources, curves defining spatial distributions for storms of various areal extent were derived. Results are presented in a form readily adaptable for use by hydrologists or other interested users.
Climate Fluctuations in Illinois, 1901-1980 (covers 1901-1980) [ISWS B 68]
Changes in climate directly affect four areas of major ctivity and concern in Illinois water, energy, agriculture, and transportation. This report presents selected Illinois records for 1901-1980 on a variety of atmospheric conditions that allow assessment of climate fluctuations, climate trends, variability around the trends, and impacts of these changes on the four areas of concern. Documented are changes in statewide and regional precipitation and temperature, plus selected point (station) data. Also presented are changes in other atmospheric conditions including relative humidity, sky cover and sunshine, visibility and related air quality smoke/haze/dust), severe local storms, and wind speed and direction. The historical records are carefully evaluated as to quality. Analyses of the data indicate changes in the more recent 20 years (1961-1980 compared with 1901-1960) to wetter and cooler conditions: more rain and snow and fewer droughts; decreases in temperatures especially in summer and winter, with fewer extremely warm days and many more extremely cold days; increases in cloudiness and decreases in sunshine and clear days especially in summer; and increases in wind speeds with more diverse wind directions. All trends are more marked in the extreme seasons of summer and winter than in the transition seasons of spring and fall, although somewhat warmer springs have produced a slightly longer growing season in the recent period. Mixed regional changes are noted in other atmospheric conditions, and no trend is apparent for relative humidity.
Climate of Illinois and Central United States: Comparison of Model Simulations of the Current Climate, Comparison of Model Sensitivity to Enhanced Greenhouse Gas Forcing, and Regional Climate Model Simulations [Contract Report 2004-12.]
Illinois State Water Survey presents a diagnostic analysis of climate model data examining precipitation, surface air temperature, and related atmospheric features for Illinois and the central United States.
Climatology of severe winter storms in Illinois (1969) [B-53]
A detailed climatological study of all severe winter storms occurring in Illinois during the 1900-1960 period has been pursued to obtain extensive information concerning these frequently quite damaging snow and ice storms. This study provides information that enlarges our knowledge of the basic climatological aspects of winter storms, statistics concerning the amount and types of damage they produce, descriptions of the meteorological conditions producing these storms, and data helpful in the design and planning for these events.
Continued operation of a 25-raingage network for collection, reduction, and analysis of precipitation data for Lake Michigan diversion accounting : Water Year 2002 (2003) [CR-2003-01]
A dense raingage network has operated in Cook County since the fall of 1989, to provide accurate precipitation for use in simulating runoff for Lake Michigan diversion accounting. This report describes the network design, the operations and maintenance procedures, the data reduction and quality control methodology, a comparison of rainfall amounts obtained via analog chart and data logger, and an analysis of precipitation for Water Year 2002 (October 2001 - September 2002). The data analyses include 1) monthly and Water Year 2002 amounts at all sites, 2) Water Year 2002 amounts in comparison to patterns from network Water Years 1990-2001, and 3) the 13-year network precipitation average for Water Years 1990-2002. Also included are raingage site descriptions, instructions for raingage technicians, documentation of raingage maintenance, and documentation of high storm totals.
Continued operation of a 25-raingage network for collection, reduction, and analysis of precipitation data for Lake Michigan diversion accounting: water year 2005. (2006) [CR-2006-02]
A dense raingage network has operated in Cook County since the fall of 1989, to provide accurate precipitation measurements for use in simulating runoff for Lake Michigan diversion accounting. This report describes the network design, the operations and maintenance procedures, the data reduction and quality control methodology, a comparison of rainfall amounts obtained via analog chart and data logger, and an analysis of precipitation for Water Year 2005 (October 2004 - September 2005). The data analyses include 1) monthly and Water Year 2005 amounts at all sites, 2) Water Year 2005 amounts in comparison to patterns from network Water Years 1990-2004, and 3) the 16-year network precipitation average for Water Years 1990-2005. Also included are raingage site descriptions, instructions for raingage technicians, documentation of raingage maintenance, and documentation of high storm totals.
Continued operation of a raingage network for collection, reduction, and analysis of precipitation data for Lake Michigan diversion accounting {periodical start}
This record links to the reports on the dense raingage network, which has operated in Cook County since the fall of 1989, to provide accurate precipitation for use in simulating runoff for purposes of Lake Michigan diversion accounting.
Continued operation of a raingage network for collection, reduction, and analysis of precipitation data for Lake Michigan diversion accounting : Water Year 1999. (2000) [CR-2000-07]
A dense raingage network has operated in Cook County since the fall of 1989, to provide accurate precipitation for use in simulating runoff for purposes of Lake Michigan diversion accounting. This report describes the network design, the operations and maintenance procedures, the data reduction methodology, and an analysis of precipitation occurring during Water Year 1999 (October 1998 through September 1999). The data analyses include 1) monthly and Water Year 1999 amounts at all sites, 2) Water Year 1999 amounts in comparison to patterns from network Water Years 1990-1998, and 3) the ten-year network precipitation average for Water Years 1990-1999. Also included are: raingage site description, instructions for raingage technicians, documentation of raingage maintenance, and documentation of high storm totals.
Continued operation of a raingage network for collection, reduction, and analysis of precipitation data for Lake Michigan diversion accounting: Water Year 2000 (2001) [CR-2001-02]
A dense raingage network has operated in Cook County since the fall of 1989, to provide accurate precipitation for use in simulating runoff for purposes of Lake Michigan diversion accounting. This report describes the network design, the operations and maintenance procedures, the data reduction methodology, and an analysis of precipitation for Water Year 2000 (October 1999 through September 2000). The data analyses include 1) monthly and Water Year 2000 amounts at all sites, 2) Water Year 2000 amounts in comparison to patterns from network Water Years 1990-1999, and 3) the 11-year network precipitation average for Water Years 1990-2000. Also included are raingage site descriptions, instructions for raingage technicians, documentation of raingage maintenance, and documentation of high storm totals.
Development of the Regional Climate-Weather Research and Forecasting (CWRF) model: surface boundary conditions. (2005) [SR-2005-01]
The Climate-Weather Research and Forecasting (CWRF) is the climate extension of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, incorporating all WRF functionalities for numerical weather predictions while enhancing the capability for climate applications. This report focuses on the construction and implementation of surface boundary conditions (SBCs) specifically designed for CWRF mesoscale modeling applications. The primary SBCs include surface topography (mean elevation, slope, curvature, and their standard deviations); bedrock, lakebed, or seafloor depth; soil sand, and clay fraction profiles; surface albedo localization factor; bottom soil temperature; surface characteristic identification; land cover category; fractional vegetation cover; leaf and stem area index; sea surface temperature, salinity, and current; and sea temperature and salinity profiles. They are currently presented in a CWRF domain suitable for the U.S applications at 30-kilometer spacing. The raw data sources and processing procedures, however, are elaborated in detail, by which the SBCs can be readily constructed for any specific CWRF domain anywhere in the world. For a specific field, alternative data sources, if available, were compared to quantify uncertainties and suggest the choice or improvement.